Vandals tag Herndon signs

SANDPOINT — Over the weekend, five of Scott Herndon’s campaign signs were spray-painted with orange swastikas. After the initial cleanup, two of the signs were hit again with black paint.

Complaints have been filed in connection with the incidents with the Bonner County Sheriff's Office, Herndon said in a press release announcing the vandalism. All of the signs vandalized are on private property.

The two signs hit with black paint the second time are not salvageable since the black paint requires acetone which ruins the signs, Herndon said.

Herndon, who is the Republican candidate for the Idaho Senate in Legislative District 1, faces a write-in challenge from independent Steve Johnson. There are no Democratic candidates on the ballot.

Herndon blamed a toxic campaign environment he attributed to local Democrats and Johnson’s campaign and causing the acts of vandalism. He pointed to the party’s social media accounts which contain what he said are “anti-Herndon” statements.

“I don’t think I have ever seen a campaign where the other candidate's name is on the sign,” he said, referring to Johnson’s call to “defeat Scott Herndon,” which is printed on the independent candidate’s campaign signs.

The Democratic Party released a press release condemning the acts of vandalism.

“Democrats strongly denounce all acts of vandalism,” party officials said in the press release. “As proud Americans, we firmly believe in the First Amendment right to free speech. This includes the freedom to express oneself with a campaign sign.”

Having experienced vandalism of their own campaign signs in past elections, they said they “whole-heartedly understand the feelings of violation that vandalism incurs.”

Linda Larson, chairman of the local Democratic Party, said she condemned the vandalism.

“I do not support vandalism in any form,” she added. “It's illegal. Herndon should file a complaint and law enforcement should investigate and prosecute."